The Charlotte Hornets (44-38) and Orlando Magic (45-37) will meet in the final round of the NBA Play-In Tournament tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. The game will broadcast live on Amazon Prime Video.
The Hornets are 3-point favorites over the Magic on the spread (Hornets -3), with the over/under set at 218.5 total points. Charlotte is a -164 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Orlando is +138 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Hornets vs. Magic predictions and NBA picks for Friday, April 17.
Hornets vs Magic Prediction
- Hornets vs Magic picks: Hornets -3, Over 218.5
My Magic vs. Hornets best bets are on Charlotte to cover the spread (-3) and the game to go over 218.5 total points. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Hornets vs Magic Odds
| Hornets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3 -112 | 218.5 -108o / -112u | -164 |
| Magic Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3 -108 | 218.5 -108o / -112u | +138 |
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Hornets vs Magic NBA Play-In Tournament Preview
Charlotte Hornets Betting Preview
Let’s start here: losers of the first play-in game are 6-4 in the second game; and 8-seeds are 4-4. So, it’s much more of a "coin flip" than you would think.
However, favorites in the play-in tournament since 2022 are 8-0 SU and ATS in the second game. That’s a pretty stunning number — but it also proves, in some part, that if you can’t figure out how to get out of a one-game environment into the playoffs and aren’t favored, the market is probably correct in their assessment.
The Hornets shoot more threes, make more threes, shoot better from the field, defend opponents from the field better, rebound better, and foul less. They have the best player in the game in LaMelo Ball, the better backcourt, the better frontcourt, and are 13-3 SU and 9-7 ATS as road favorites this season.
Other than that, though, the matchup is also really bad for Orlando.
Orlando Magic Betting Preview
The Magic are 9-21 with a 25th-ranked -3.1 spread differential against top-10 offenses this season, per Cleaning The Glass.
Don’t worry, though, because at least the Magic went 1-3 SU and ATS in the season series vs. this Hornets team — losing by over 11 points per game.
This is one of those games that’s so easy that you kind of want to go the other way.
The Hornets have been the better team than Orlando for months, have smashed them in this matchup, and have categorical advantages all over.
The Magic are in a tailspin, zeroing in on a coaching change and potentially roster changes this summer.
Hornets vs Magic Pick, Betting Analysis
Hornets -3
I make the spread for this game Hornets -4.5, so I’m comfortable betting Charlotte in this spot.
If all the trends, matchups, and data are wrong and the Magic win — then, that’s just the way it goes.
However, everything about both teams this season (and teams in this spot) suggest that the Hornets will roll here on their way to a 1st-round matchup with Detroit.
Over 218.5
The play-in games have historically leaned Under, but the Over is 3-1 this year and this is a wildly low total. The one Under was the Magic game, of course, where they scored only 97 points.
But overall, the market keeps anticipating the Magic defense to be as good as it was in previous seasons, and it just isn’t.
I’m expecting a much more up-and-down game here, with Orlando playing for its life and trying to get downhill in transition.
The Hornets will counter with shooting from the perimeter, while Orlando will get to the line enough to bump up the total.
I’ll take the Over, as I think Orlando’s defense is no match for Charlotte.
Hornets vs Magic Best Bets
- Hornets -3 (-112)
- Over 218.5 (-108)
